Kiley & Andrew: A Picturesque Winter Wedding in Breckenridge, CO

Kiley and Andrew’s winter destination wedding in Colorado was filled with snow, candlelight, and Christmas cheer.

THE BRIDE Kiley ConradTHE GROOM Andrew JonesTHE DATE December 17THE SCENE Ceremony at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church and reception at the Lodge and Spa at Breckenridge

HOW THEY MET One Friday night, late in the summer of 1999, Kiley, a candidate for a Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Kansas, was appropriately starting out the evening at a T.G.I.F. with some friends. She had a date planned for later on, but decided to cancel -- she was having too much fun talking to Andrew, a fellow classmate who’d turned out to be quite the conversationalist. Kiley, Andrew, and the gang spent the rest of the night at a bowling alley. Three weeks later, after chatting in hallways and exchanging smiles, they were dating exclusively. The following March, Andrew proposed at a swanky Kansas City steakhouse.

A CANDLELIGHT CEREMONY “My family has spent every Christmas in the Rockies since I was six,” says Kiley on why these native Kansas Citians chose Breckenridge for their wedding day destination. “I have always loved the way the ski towns looked with tiny white lights, Christmas cheer, and lots of great snow.” In the midst of heavy snowfall, Kiley and Andrew had an intimate ceremony in a small, picturesque Episcopal church, warm candlelight flickering in the windows and near the altar. Gardenias and ivy graced the pews, and there was fresh greenery everywhere, filling the space with the smell of pine. It was still snowing just after the ceremony, when a gleaming white carriage whisked the bride and groom away to the reception. “The town was quiet except for Andrew’s niece ringing the church bells and the clump of horse hooves,” remembers Kiley. A pair of horses dressed in red velvet, with red roses and ribbons in their manes and tails, led the way, while the newlyweds snuggled amid the billowing folds of Kiley’s gown and white velvet marabou-trimmed cape.

A HOLIDAY-STYLE RECEPTION A fire was roaring in the foyer of the The Lodge and Spa at Breckenridge, where the party took place. The festivities began with cocktails, baked brie, and berries, and then moved into the wood-paneled dining room, where deep red roses and pepperberries topped the tables in low clusters and white Christmas lights twinkled from potted trees. Nestled in ivory linens, there was a red glass ornament at every place setting. “Even though there weren’t a lot of us,” remembers Kiley, “we had a ball dancing and visiting.” Later, Kiley and Andrew departed via carriage once more to spend the night at a cozy inn farther down the mountain.